Clarke Staton, chaplain resident at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis, will discuss his work as a hospital chaplain. A former youth pastor, he has completed three Clinical Pastoral Education units at Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital system, most recently serving as one of their select resident interns.
Tim Ruebke, former alternative dispute resolution deployable field advisor, will talk about his work as an alternative dispute resolution advisor (conflict mediator) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for which he has deployed to over 40 different disaster response locations in the U.S. He will explore the complexities of resolving conflict and explain key principles of effective conflict engagement.
MU seniors Carmen Reno and Payton Elsrod will share their distinctive ways of making the most of their college experience and becoming their best selves. Coming from two different disciplines, Reno and Elsrod will share foundational values relevant for all students.
Becky Landes, regional value chain professional with Farmwise Indiana and former school food service director, will share insights from her career in child nutrition—including efforts to bring local farm produce into the Manchester Junior-Senior High School cafeteria—and discuss her current work supporting local food systems and promoting social responsibility in food supply chains.
Heidi Lovett, MLIS, is the Youth Services Manager of the St. Joseph County Public Libraries. What if libraries were more than quiet places full of books? What if they were spaces for painting, building, creating—and reimagining how we connect with kids and communities? In this engaging presentation, discover how one children’s librarian turned her passion for art into a series of innovative library projects that bring stories to life in unexpected ways. From hands-on art programs to interactive installations, learn how creativity can reshape what a library looks like and what it offers. Whether you’re into education, art, or just want to make a difference in your community, this talk will inspire you to think outside the bookshelves.
Jim Kelly, historian and historical interpreter at the Whitney Plantation and consultant on numerous film projects, will discuss the way history is written and represented, and the lessons we may take from this today
Dr. Elewitz, who heads the Enterprise AI Lab at McKesson (a Fortune 10 pharmaceutical distribution company, presents on what major enterprises are trying to achieve with AI. His presentation will highlight how CEOs think about value, how to build AI products with reasonable risk, what AI/data scientists really do and how they spend their time, and identifying legitimate concerns with AI.
Our ability to correctly determine the probability, or likelihood, of a particular outcome occurring guides the many choices we make each day. This talk will explore examples of where our innate intuition about the world and these probabilities can lead us astray. Dr. Kyle Besing is the Associate Provost for Curriculum and Instruction and an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Kentucky Wesleyan College.
Keynote Speaker Dr Joshua Kline '98 will present.
Dr. Anuj Gurung and MU students of Jan 26 This presentation, led by MU students who have visited Nepal, explores the unprecedented role of Nepal’s Generation Z in challenging entrenched political systems and catalyzing a change of government. Drawing on on-the-ground accounts, social media campaigns, and youth-led organizing, it examines how a digitally connected, socially conscious generation transformed frustration into coordinated action. We will trace the movement’s origins, tactics, and leadership, highlight the cultural and political context that gave rise to it, and consider its implications for democratic participation, governance, and intergenerational power dynamics across South Asia and beyond.
Manchester Symphony Orchestra performs
Love argues that reexamining Conjure traditions exposes how African American spiritual practices have been sidelined in Eurocentric religious studies. Highlighting Conjure’s history of resistance and Black women’s agency, the essay challenges Western categories that separate religion, magic, and science. Love ultimately urges a decolonized approach that honors the resilience and creativity of African American folk traditions.
